There are all kinds of cliché quotes I could use to start off this column and I considered many. Just a sampling I considered, as I sit in my home office in my underwear writing this (which is exactly how the Sports Shooter Newsletter started over 11 years ago):

Comebacks in sports (and in life) are not that uncommon. For the past month I have been planning this_ getting new ideas, reviewing old ones and reaching out to people to help me continue this community of photographers that I named "Sports Shooter" 11 years ago.

I won't use another cliché and say that I spent the time "recharging my batteries" because I was as busy as I had been. But after talking to students attending last April's Sports Shooter Academy workshop, it gave me the feeling that my frustration with the newsletter and the website was because more than anything I had lost some focus.

I also had the feeling that there was some unfinished business.

So here is the deal: I will continue this newsletter and the other assorted things that come with it, but I need some help. Ideas, suggestions, interesting stories and patience are what I need from the Sports Shooter Community.

I need eyes and ears people!

Here are some things I am thinking of and need help with:

- I would like to see more stories on and by students. So students: What's going on out there your college campus? Is there a cool story in the school paper that I can link and promote? Are you working on interesting project that you'd like help with? Is there a Sports Shooter member that you would like to conduct a Q & A with? Sports Shooter can be the place where we can connect the schools.

- I am running the first installment of what I hope will be a continuing series that I am calling "Pimp My Rig". This feature discusses how photographers are getting into video and what equipment they are using to make that transition. This could be take the form of this issue's installment where Carlos Gonzalez writes about the gear he has added to his DSLR to shoot video, but with an eye to the budget. But this feature could be much, much more.

- The state of the photography and the newspaper business has put a lot of our colleagues into the freelance world _ and many totally into different professions. I know this is something we ALL think about (you bet your ass I worry about this every day) and while a sensitive topic, I want to reach out to people to let us know what they are doing and how they moved on from their staff jobs or from photography.

- I would like to do more with videos. What would you like to see? More behind-the-scenes? Instructional?

- I am working with two companies that have been very good to me over the years, Roberts Distributors in Indianapolis and Samy's Camera in Los Angeles. We're hoping to produce regular features on new, interesting and cool gear. This is something in the works and we don't have details ironed out. But if we know there is a lot of interest we can use that to go to manufacturers to plead out case for getting access to look over gear that is of most interest to you.

As always I am in deep debt to my family and friends. Without them I could not continue Sports Shooter and put on the Academy workshops. Thanks and love to all of them.

This reboot of the Sports Shooter Newsletter features our annual Intern Diaries series with contributions from Zach Ornitz, Joel Hawksley, Anthony Souffle and Octavian Cantilli. The debut of the new Pimp My Rig feature was written by Carlos Gonzalez. A very fun Ask Sports Shooter column was contributed by George Bridges. Will Vragovic writes about taking the theme "Friday Night Lights" to the St. Pete Times' prep football preview section. And we have a really fun story by Jamey Price who after graduating from college this spring is now living his dream of working as a jockey _ in England.

The Sports Shooter Newsletter started out as a place where photographers could tell their stories in their own words and I think issue #132 is a good (re)start of that mission.

So _ sit back, relax, adjust the contrast on that monitor and enjoy the Sports Shooter Newsletter 132.

* * *WORTH A READ
I just finished Michael Connelly's latest novel, "The Reversal". For fans of Connelly, as I and my buddy Bob Deutsch are, this is a special book.

(A film version of the first Mickey Haller novel "Lincoln Lawyer" just wrapped shooting in LA, with Mathew McConaughey playing the lead.)

WORTH A LISTEN
What is on heavy play on iTunes on my computers and on CD in my car is the truly amazing double disc set by the Kashmere Stage Band, "Texas Thunder Soul (1968-1974)".

Even if you're not stuck (musically) in the 60's and 70's like I am you, will be blown away by the tight instrumentation and sound of this HIGH SCHOOL big band. Part James Brown, part Sly & the Family Stone and part Tower of Power these recently released tracks are a lasting tribute to the man who started the Kashmere Stage Band, Conrad O. Johnson.

A documentary on Johnson is making the rounds --- a reunion by members of the band took place at the Venice Film Festival --- so check it out if it comes to a theater near you.

The comments, opinions and other nutty statements that the writers may have expressed, implied, imagined or made up are theirs and theirs alone. Sports Shooter, Inc. and SportsShooter.com published these articles in good faith with the purpose of education and inspiration.

Permission in writing must be obtained from Sports Shooter, Inc. and the author of the article before being reprinted.

I welcome any comments, corrections, suggestions and contributions. Please e-mail me at bert@sportsshooter.com.

The Sports Shooter Archives as well as tons of cool resources and information can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.SportsShooter.com.

Contents copyright 2017, SportsShooter.com. Do not republish without permission.